Transfusions - The Cocktail of Life!

My mom's blood count has been dropping steadily for the last several weeks. As of now, her oncologist is still uncertain if this is breast cancer metastasized to bone, or if it's leukemia. Either way, it still stinks! She had a bone marrow biopsy yesterday to determine if it's leukemia or not.

It's hard to believe that in late March she was still "power walking" a couple miles every day and felt absolutely perfect. This has all happened so 'quickly', yet my educated mind knows that this takes a lifetime to develop.

Yesterday she had her first blood transfusions - 2 pints. When I first met up with her at the Cancer Clinic in the morning, I was stunned at how she had deteriorated in just the 2 days since I had last visited. She seemed so much older, and frail, and confused and disoriented. It really threw me. Then, within an hour of being hooked up to the "happy juice", I literally saw my mom come back! She was vibrant, funny, perky... and she ate like a horse! It was hilarious!

She had a much better night last night and day today than she's had a many weeks. Although the transfusions don't solve the underlying problem, it sure is wonderful to see the life come back in someone... even if just for a short time. More time to give some love!

Axillary Node Dissection

I'm curious - has anyone ever come across any research or statistics regarding the prevalence of cancer metastasizing following an axillary node dissection vs. those who keep their lymphatic systems 'intact'? It just seems like once you open up the lymphatic system to "sample" the lymph nodes, you're just inviting spread... I don't know (nobody knows anything for sure!), but it's just one of those things that doesn't seem to make much common sense. Does the benefit outweigh the risk? Is anyone checking? I know my mom's surgeon had never seen any research on that. Anyone?

Hypercalcemia

Hypercalcemia, secondary to bone metastasis, doesn't have much of a favorable outcome... at least conventionally speaking. Would anyone care to comment on either traditional or 'alternative' treatments that have brought relief? Let's also talk about how the treatment effects the quality of life.

Natural Relief

Could you please share what natural methods you've found to help with the symptoms of breast cancer... for example, bone pain. Obviously, if you feel you've found something that does more than just treat the symptoms, please DO share.